Southern California Natives

Cultivation...

Bush mimulus thrive in full sun or partial shade. Some varieties, such as red shades, or m. biffidus, which is northern, prefer partial shade. In general, bush mimulus love heat and do well in many types of soil, especially if the soil is rocky or sandy and has good drainage. Plants are generally drought tolerant. Although some varieties may wilt from lack of water, they are usually able to recover fully even from a badly wilted condition, if they are watered promptly enough. In some locales summer water should be witheld or reduced. Most varieties tend to go partially or fully dormant summer through winter. Here in my area of Southern California I must water daily during the summer, however, or my plants (mostly in pots) would die. Even during the winter I must water every other day or two. (As a general rule, I water daily when temperatures are 80 or above, every other day when temperatures are 70 - 79, and every two days when temperatures are below 70. If temperatures are 100 or above, I water twice a day. On very hot days I sometimes give plants a cooling spray of water at mid day.) Late winter in So. Cal. is like spring in some other places, and my bush mimulus have already started growing and blooming again. Where winters are mild, these plants are perenials. Even tiny seedlings tolerate freezing temperatures well. Where winters are severe, these plants must be grown as annuals, or wintered over in a green house.

Bush mimulus resist smog, and most pests and diseases except certain virus and fungus infections which are contagious; sanitation and low humidity may help prevent this. Plants are also susceptable to catepillar damage, snails, and aphids. (Aphids occur in late winter and early spring and go away by themselves; hairy leaved plants seem less susceptable.)

Prune back after first flowering period and again before new spring growth in late winter (unless a breeding program inteferes with this). I used to fertilize plants monthly during the growing months with 'Sevin Iron' (a teaspoon per gallon plant) but now I am not so certain this is needed. Fertilizer with minerals or mineral suplements may help to keep leaves dark green, however. 'Osmocote' fertilizer may be enough for 6 mos. to a year. But if the plants are to remain in their pots for a period of years, they will need additional fertilizer once in a while.